Overview: With its long stretch of golden sand and (mostly) undeveloped shoreline, Po'olenalena Beach is hands down one of the best beaches on Maui.

While the beach has become popular in recent years (and can sometimes get packed weekends), it's big enough to comfortably accommodate the crowd—so don't be deterred if you show up to the beach and there are three dozen cars in the parking lot.

When the water is calm the snorkeling can be fantastic, but during the summer there can sometimes be waves that stir up the visibility. That's good news for boogie boarders though, who often flock to this scenic beach break on any kind of south swell.

This also one of the best places on Maui for watching the sunset, and you can pretty much count on a sunset wedding happening every day of the week.

Good For: Snorkeling, boogie boarding, sunbathing, beach volleyball.

Not So Good For: Kiawe thorns, minimal facilities, dirt parking lot.

Maui Expert Tip For Po'olenalena Beach: There's a hidden cove on the north end of the beach you can access by following a trail over the rocks. The parking lot on the north end is dirt and doesn't have a shower; the parking lot on the south end of the beach is smaller and doesn't have a restroom. If you're concerned about tracking sand into your car, use the parking lot on the south end.

Directions and Parking Situation: The biggest parking lot is on the north end of the beach off Makena Alanui Road. On weekends the lot can often get full and the parking spills out toward the road.

There's also a second, smaller lot on the southern end of the beach, which is right next to the Makena Surf by the fire hydrant numbered 614.

Facilities: There's a port a potty at the north parking lot and a beach shower on the south end.